Autonomous Computing Systems

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Abstract

This work discusses autonomous computing systems, as implemented
in hardware, and the properties required for such systems to function.
Particular attention is placed on shifting the associated complexity
into the systems themselves, and making them responsible for their own
resources and operation. The resulting systems present simpler
interfaces to their environments, and are able to respond to changes
within themselves or their environments with little or no outside
intervention. This work proposes a roadmap for the development of
autonomous computing systems, and shows that their individual components
can be implemented with present day technology.

This work further implements a proof-of-concept demonstration system
that advances the state-of-the-art. The system detects activity on
connected inputs, and responds to the conditions without external
assistance. It works from mapped netlists, that it dynamically parses,
places, routes, configures, connects, and implements within itself, at
the finest granularity available, while continuing to run. The system
also models itself and its resource usage, and keeps that model
synchronized with the changes that it undergoes—a critical
requirement for autonomous systems. Furthermore, because the system
assumes responsibility for its resources, it is able to dynamically
avoid resources that have been masked out, in a manner suitable for
defect tolerance.